Thursday, September 22, 2011

The D&G Spring 2012 collection may be heavy on prints, as shown in the photo above and the one below. Photos by Dennis Valle for D&G.

“THE D&G SS12 Womenswear show is quickly approaching: the first thing we want to know is the mood,” teases Swide, the in-house digital rag of Dolce&Gabbana about the D&G show that will start in less than two hours. “We show you just enough not to ruin the surprise for when the gorgeous models take over.”

The fashion parade has left London and is in continental Europe – in Italy to be precise – for Milan Fashion Week. It commenced yesterday with Gucci and Alberta Ferretti among those showing. Before it wraps on Tuesday (27 Sept.) with a show featuring four new up-and-coming designers, some more perennials – Armani, Versace, Prada, Pucci – will have taken their turn. Then it’s off to Paris from 27 Sept. through 5 Oct. The ready-to-wear (Prêt-à-Porter) shows opens with Fatima Lopes and Impasse de la Defense closes things down.

From its inception the young urban bridge line, D&G (women and men), has been bold, hip, edgy and in-your-face sexy. (D&G Men Spring 2012 was shown this summer and is true to form.) For Spring 2012, however, D&G Women is a bohemian-chic that is softer and exudes a demure sexiness.

Judging by the snatches that have been revealed it appears that the collection is going to be heavy on prints. They are Arabian-esque, Hermes-esque and floral; some may even tell a story. The color palette is brilliant red/gold/marine blue/pink/lime green and orange but not the aggressive coral so prevalent on runways in New York last week. The color scheme, also in solids and color blocks, extends to the various and sundry accessories of D&G, too.

Of course, this assessment is based soley on scant details. “What's behind that door?” Dolce&Gabbana coyly asks in a Tweet yesterday. “We could open it but ... let's wait for tomorrow.” Naturally

The show, scheduled for 2 p.m. Milan time (8 a.m. New York time), will stream live at http://www.bit.ly/n2aPxa.

Not Wasting a Stitch: 'Eco-Fashion the Park'The avant-garde gray blazer by Wendel Johnston is available at http://www.etsy.com/. Photo from Etsy.

THE drumbeat for sustainability continues on Sunday with the extravaganza, “Eco-Fashion in the Park” at Highbridge Park in upper Manhattan.

It is the season of fashion. Naturally, there is a show. Lissy Gómez (Lvg Designs) and Wendel Johnston are among 11 designers who will put some of their work on a runway. All are committed in word and designs to reducing the collective carbon footprint by working with sustainable materials. Just as important, they wish to raise awareness about the importance of sustainability to an audience that might not have gotten the memo.

“It’s great to see how upcoming, independent designers work with materials that are good for the environment,” “Eco-Fashion in the Park” producer Gina Constanza said in a statement. GC is also a stylist, image consultant and founder of House of Glam (not the Oxygen series). “Shifting fashion to be more sustainable and eco-friendly in their work is just the beginning of an unforgettable prelude to my commitment to this initiative.”

Sketch of a design by Lissy Gómez. Photo courtesy of Lissy Gómez.

The day’s activities, which are free and open to the public, also include a clothing swap (clean/wearable for clean/wearable), body-painting and a live band.

Designer, researcher and educator Trudy Miller will preside over a live demonstration, presumably of sustainable fashion. Some of her past work, according to her LinkedIN page, includes the development of “a zero waste convertible wardrobe system for women on the go.”